Veterinary Support

Emilio Criscitiello
- Emilio Criscitiello
Veterinary Assistant
Emilio Criscitiello

Emilio Criscitiello has been a member of the Staten Island Animal Hospital team since January 2010. As an animal lover, Emilio not only takes care of pets at the hospital, but also helps take care of his six family pets, Roxie, Gypsy, Bentley, Jack, Puppy and Elliot.
Stefanie Marasco
- Stefanie Marasco
Veterinary Assistant
Stefanie Marasco
Veterinary Tech School: Penn Foster

Stefanie has been a member of the Staten Island Animal Hospital team as a veterinary assistant since March 2010. Her furry family includes five pets: two dogs (Katie & Jeter) and three cats (Joba, Trebble and Lyric). Stefanie also fosters pets and helps to find them homes. She is currently enrolled in Penn Foster to receive her veterinary technician license.
Leia Metrick
- Leia Metrick
Veterinary Assistant
Leia Metrick
School: Rutgers University, BS (Biology)

Leia Metrick joined the Staten Island Animal Hospital team in November 1997. She is trained as both a veterinary assistant and as a receptionist. Leia graduated with a degree in Biology from Rutger's University. She will soon graduate from nursing school and become a Registered Nurse. When Leia isn't taking care of the pets at the hospital, her cats Kala, Tweek, Toonces, Junior and 12-year-old dog Kira keep her company at home.
Nellie Parrilla
- Nellie Parrilla
Veterinary Assistant
Nellie Parrilla

Nellie Parrilla joined the Staten Island Animal Hospital team as a veterinary assistant in June 2007. Prior to joining our hospital staff, Nellie was an EMT with St. Vincent's hospital for many years. In addition to helping our client's pets, Nellie helps find homes for stray or abandoned animals at the hospital, even taking home strays herself. At home, Nellie and her fellow animal lover son, Bobby, care for the pets which also includes their dogs (Betsy, Peanut and Bambi), four cats (Ginger, Peaches, Baby and Edgewater) and a goldfish named "Tartar Sauce."
Frank Rodriguez
- Frank Rodriguez
Veterinary Assistant
Frank Rodriguez

Frank Rodriguez has been a veterinary assistant at Staten Island Animal Hospital since August 2006. In 1989, Frank started a foundation in which he would rescue stray dogs and find them homes. Frank has had pets his entire life including dogs, cats, turtles, fish, hamsters, snakes, a duck, a horse and even a squirrel! Frank currently has an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zoe.

Our Team

Specialty Care

Sometimes sick or injured pets need the care of a veterinary medical specialist. When that happens, VCA specialty hospitals work closely with the general practitioner veterinarians who refer cases to us in order to provide seamless veterinary care to your pet. When your pet is facing any kind of serious illness or injury, our specialty referral hospitals will provide the compassionate and expert care your beloved pet needs.

Our goal is to make sure that when you and your pet are in need that you have access to board certified specialists who are up to date on the very latest developments in their field. In our state of the art hospitals, our specialists also have access to the most sophisticated diagnostic and treatment tools and techniques from ultrasonography and endoscopy to CAT scans and even MRI.

We have over 40 specialty hospitals across the US so there may be one near you. Our specialized services include: behavior, cardiology, critical care, dentistry, dermatology, integrative medicine, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, radiology, rehabilitation, reproduction, and surgery.